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How to Wrap a Van in Advertising: The Complete Guide

A great way to get your brand out there is to wrap a van in advertising and make it seen. This article will show you how to wrap a van step-by-step. You’ll learn how to choose a van, find the blueprints, get some graphic designers, and then execute the entire process. So, are you ready to wrap your van in advertising?

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Band members waving from a red and blue Russkaja tour wrap on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van
A full tour wrap turns a Sprinter into a billboard everywhere it drives and parks.
The van

How to choose a van for a wrap

Simply put, it’s hard to choose a van without knowing what you need. You can choose anything in your life – once you know what the outcome should be.

There are a few things to pay attention to when selecting a van for a wrap. Location: the van is not always the most important thing in the equation. It matters where to get the van: closer to home to pick up supplies and swag, closer to the wrapping company, or near the end of the promo tour so you can wrap up and get home quickly. Location comes into play again when planning your promo routes, either by venues, by the most slow-moving traffic, or by the most visited street corners without short-term parking restrictions. So make sure it’s close to a good spot.

Vehicle types

You’ll need a vehicle that is in good condition mechanically. The exterior looks are less important, since they are covered by the wrapping anyway.

Your options are to find a long-term rental van that is affordable and allows wrapping, or to buy a van. Here’s a good list and examples of wrapped vans to choose from. Towing and a roof rack might come in handy for tents, awnings, and hauling your demo products and giveaways.

Not all vans are created equal. Once you find what you are looking for on the outside, you need to look at the interior of your van. Seats, windows, rear AC, engine type, height, and total weight are all factors you should consider! Click here to compare vans.

Red Alpinestars-branded Sprinter cargo van with its side door open at an outdoor street event
Open the side door and the van doubles as a booth, so check the interior as closely as the outside.
The design

How to get a van wrap started with a graphic designer

If you are just starting and have no budget just yet, you might be able to find some help on Fiverr or Upwork, or you can do a quick mockup using this Sprinter van blueprint.

At a later stage, you should hire van wrapping experts to finalize your wrap and get the wrap job onto the van. Try to pick a color that won’t get “WASH ME” :-) written all over your van after a day of driving, or plan for a bunch of washes along your route.

WASH ME ;-)

Speaking of


Navy and copper HG Walter butcher wrap with a bull outline on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van
A professional design reads from across the street: two colors, one bold graphic and a clear name.
The route

How to plan a promo route for your business

Punch in your start and end location and there you go. Yeah, right.

Keep in mind seasons and weather, traffic, venue and show access times, and traffic getting into and out of venues. Is there oversized parking, 72-hour parking, or any parking at all for a larger van? Are there any bridges or alleys you can’t get through? And spare yourself a fast-food drive-through nightmare that was too low for your van.

Keep in mind: the more eyes on the van, the better for you. So parking the van in front, near the main entrance, after you have hauled all your marketing materials inside is a smart thing to do.

Yellow and blue IKEA #SaveOurSleep wrap on a Sprinter van parked outside an IKEA store at night
Park where the crowd walks past: right outside the main entrance.
The budget

How to budget a nationwide promotions roadshow

Add up every line before you commit to a route:

  • Van rental fee
  • Wrapping and unwrapping
  • Driver and crew pay
  • Fuel and tolls
  • Insurance
  • Team lodging
  • Overnight parking fees
  • Swag and handout costs
  • Venue entry or permit fees
Lime green and blue hyburst wrap on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van in a pay-in-advance parking lot
Parking adds up on a long tour, so budget for it in every city.
Book & go

How to get a van and execute your trip

  1. 1
    Choose a van size and type.
  2. 2
    Pick a start and end location. Plan for 5 extra days to wrap, plus one day to remove the wrapping.
  3. 3
    Get an idea of rates and availability here.
  4. 4
  5. 5
    Get the design concepts and designs.
  6. 6
    Have us deliver the van to the wrapper.
  7. 7
    Get it wrapped and hit the road.
Orange and blue 'You Count Here' census outreach wrap on the rear of a Sprinter van inside a wrap shop
We deliver the van to your wrapper. Pick it up wrapped and ready to roll.

Wrap up

You’ve arrived at the point of maximum potential! Now it’s time to wrap a van in advertising. Choosing the right van and finding the right wrapping will take some research.

Sprinter Rentals got you covered!

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